Wireless-Based Network Management

1. A network system, comprising: a computing unit; and a management controller configured to control a device operation of the computing unit, the device operation including at least one of an operation to power up, an operation to power down, an operation to reset, an operation to power cycle, or an operation to refresh the computing unit; wherein the computing unit includes: a wireless element configured to allow wireless communication between the computing unit and the management controller over a management network; and a wired element configured to allow wired communication between the computing unit and a client device over a data network that is independent from the management network; and wherein the management controller is also configured to route network data to the client device over the management network via the wireless element and reduce a communication bandwidth demand for routing the network data below a prior level in response to detecting a loss of connection to the data network at the computing unit.

2. The network system of claim 1 wherein the management controller is configured to control device operation of the computing unit without an operating system running on the computing unit.

3. The network system of claim 1 wherein the computing unit is a first computing unit, and wherein the wireless element is also associated with a second computing unit.

4. The network system of claim 1 wherein: the management controller is a primary management controller; and the network system further includes a secondary management controller in wireless communication with the primary management controller and with the computing unit, the secondary management controller being configured as a backup for the primary management controller.

5. The network system of claim 1 wherein: the computing unit is a first computing unit; the management controller is a primary management controller residing on the first computing unit; and the network system further includes a secondary management controller configured as a backup for the primary management controller, the secondary management controller residing on a second computing unit in range of the wireless element associated with the first computing unit.

6. The network system of claim 1 wherein: the computing unit is a first computing unit; the wireless element is a first wireless element; the management controller is a primary management controller residing on the first computing unit; the network system further includes a secondary management controller configured as a backup for the primary management controller, the secondary management controller residing on a second computing unit associated with a second wireless element, the second wireless element being in range of the first wireless element; a third computing unit associated with a third wireless element, the third wireless element being in range of the second wireless element but not of the first wireless element; and the primary management controller is configured to access the third computing unit using the second wireless element as a relay.

7. The network system of claim 1 wherein the computing unit includes a unit controller configured to control device operation of a main processing unit of the computing unit, and wherein the wireless element is integrated into the unit controller and operatively coupled to the main processing unit.

8. The network system of claim 1 wherein: the computing unit includes: a unit controller configured to control device operation of a main processing unit of the computing unit; and wherein the wired element is coupled to both the unit controller and the main processing unit; and the wireless element is integrated into the wired element and operatively coupled to both the unit controller and the main processing unit.

9. A method of operating one or more computing units, the method comprising: wirelessly transmitting an instruction to the one or more computing units from a management controller in a management network, the one or more computing units are configured to transmit network data to one or more client devices over a data network that is independent from the management network; and monitoring an operating condition and controlling a device operation of the one or more computing units based on the monitored operating condition with the wirelessly transmitted instruction, the device operation including at least one of an operation to power up, an operation to power down, an operation to reset, an operation to power cycle, or an operation to refresh the computing unit, wherein monitoring the operating condition includes: detecting a loss of connection of one of the computing units from the data network; in response to detecting the loss of connection of the one of the computing units from the data network, transmitting another instruction to the one of the computing units to: divert transmission of the network data from the data network to the management network; and reduce a communication bandwidth demand for routing the network data below a prior level.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein controlling the device operation includes: controlling device operation of the one of more computing units even without an operating system running on the one or more computing units.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein wirelessly transmitting the instruction includes: wirelessly transmitting the instruction to the one or more computing units via a wireless element associated with one or more of the computing units.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: utilizing the management network for at least one of communication load balancing, peer-to-peer communication, or background traffic.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: determining a characteristic of a pending communication traffic; and directing the pending communication traffic to at least one of the data network or the management network based on the determined characteristic.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein monitoring the operating condition and controlling device operation includes monitoring at least one of a temperature, humidity, cooling fan status, or power status of the individual computing units using the management network.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising if the management controller fails, replacing the failed management controller with one of the one or more computing units.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising if the management controller fails, selecting one of the one or more computing units having a target wireless coverage area to replace the failed management controller.

17. A computer system, comprising: a plurality of computing units individually include: a wireless element configured to allow wireless communication between the computing unit and the management controller over a management network; and a wired element configured to allow wired communication between the computing unit and a client device over a data network that is independent from the management network; a data network coupled to the plurality of computing units, the data network including at least one of a hardwire or wireless medium configured to carry network data to and from the plurality of computing units; and a management network independent of the data network, the management network including a wireless medium configured to allow wireless monitoring and controlling of device operation of the individual computing units even without an operating system running on the individual computing units, wherein the management controller is also configured to route network data to the computing units over the management network via the wireless element of the individual computing units and reduce a communication bandwidth demand for routing the network data below a prior level in response to detecting a loss of connection to the data network at the individual computing units, wherein the management controller is also configured to route network data to the computing units over the management network via the wireless element of the individual computing units and reduce a communication bandwidth demand for routing the network data below a prior level in response to detecting a loss of connection to the data network at the individual computing units.

18. The computer system of claim 17 wherein the management network is configured to establish and access the computing units through a path in the management network on an ad hoc basis.

19. The computer system of claim 17 wherein: the management network includes a management controller wirelessly coupled to the plurality of computing units; and if one of the computing units loses connection to the data network, the computer system is configured to route network data to and from the one of the computing units using the management network.

20. The computer system of claim 17 wherein: the management network includes a primary management controller and a secondary management controller wirelessly coupled to the plurality of computing units; the secondary management controller is configured as a backup for the management controller; and when one of the primary or secondary controller fails, the management network is configured to replace the failed one of the primary or secondary controller with one of the plurality of computing units.